Miniature switch with multiple cam-operated switch contacts

ABSTRACT

A miniature switch designed for plug-in connection with printed circuit cards of standard integrated circuit systems comprises a shallow rectangular insulated case provided with a series of cantilever switch arms operable closed selectively by a common camshaft disposed at right angles to the direction of plug-in. The contact portions of the switch arms are oblique to their direction of actuation so that a rubbing contact is obtained as they are closed and opened. The switch arms extend from connector bodies which have projecting pins at one side of the case for plug-in connection with a terminal board, and have openings accessible from the other side of the case for receiving plug-in pins of any other circuit components of the system.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Pierre P. Schwab 3,251,956 5/1966 Rasor et al 200/6(B1) X River Edge, NJ. 3,299,225 l/I967 Heath 200/6 (Bl [21] Appl. No. 42,032 3,335,240 8/1967 Dhaens et al. 200/6 A X [22] Filed June 1, 1970 3,359,392 12/1967 Heath 200/6 R [45] Patented Nov. 16, 1971 3,454,736 7/1969 Bogl 200/168 S [73] Asslgnee g fiL Y Company Primary Examiner-J. R. Scott 8 AnorneyGeorge H. Fritzinger [54] MINIATURE SWITCH WITH MULTIPLE CAM- OPERATED SWITCH CONTACTS I 4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs :iBSTlIACT: A miniature switch designed for plug-in connectron with printed circuit cards of standard integrated Cll'CUll [52] U.S.Cl 200/6 BB, systems comprises a shallow rectangular insulated case 200/153 LB, 200/168 S, 317/101 R. 317/1 l2 vided with a series of cantilever switch arms operable closed [51] Int. Cl l-lOlh 19/00, selectively by a common camshaft disposed at right angles t 7/10 the direction of plug-in. The contact portions of the switch [50] Field oiSearch ZOO/6,168 arms are oblique to their direction of actuation so that a 153 153 pcwfiBBi 7/101, 112; rubbing contact is obtained as they are closed and opened. 339/17 The switch arms extend from connector bodies which have projecting pins at one side of the case for plug-in connection [56] References cited with a terminal board, and have openings accessible from the UNITED STATES PATENTS other side of the case for receiving plug-in pins of any other 2,850,681 9/1958 Horton 317/101 C circuit components of the system.

30a 25a .30 am 3/15 3/ 26a 27a m b 24 0 I 280. 27 l I/ l PATENTEDuuv 1s l97| SHEET 2 [1F 2 FIG. 3

lNV/LN'IUR PIERRE P. SCHWAB AGENT MINIATURE SWITCH WITH MULTIPLE CAM- OPERATED SWITCH CONTACTS An object of the invention is to provide a small multicontact, multiposition switch which is compatible in size and shape with requirements of standard integrated circuit systems.

Another object is to provide a low-cost switch device for integrated circuit systems.

Another object is to provide a compact plug-in switch device for integrated circuits, which has a control shaft at right angles to the direction of the plug-in enabling the switch device to be adjusted at the end or side as by a suitable tool.

Another object is to provide such compact switch device which has a height less than that of true integrated circuit components.

These and other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.

In the description of my invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plug-in switch device for integrated circuit systems according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the lines 2-2 of FIG. ll, showing an auxiliary electric component plugged into the switch from the top and showing the switch plugged into a printed circuit board (fractionally shown) at the bottom;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the base section of the case;

FIG. 4 is a view of the camshaft with the indexing hub atone end, cams thereon, and a bearing hub at the other end;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are end and side views of one of the switch members; and

FIG. 6 is a cross section taken on the line 6-6 ofFIG. l.

The present switch device in order to meet integrated circuit requirements must have a height dimension of 0.200 inches or less, and must be adjustable from the side after it is plugged in. To this end, the switch is provided with a case comprising a base section 10 and a cover section 11 which interengage to form a rectangular parallelopiped. The case has a central rectangular cavity 12 throughout the major portion of its length from which extends a small circular hole 13 with an outer counterbore I4 at one end and a larger circular hole 15 with a still larger counterbore I6 at the other end (FIG. 3). Extending centrally through the cavity is a shaft 17 hexagonal in cross section which clears the hole 13. Fitted on the back 18 which journals in the end of the shaft is a slotted hub 19 that journals in the counterbore 16. This hub has an integral indexing star 20 which clears the opening 15. Extending in diametrically opposite directions from the opening 15 are cylindrical cavities 21 into which are seated compression springs 22. These springs press against spherical balls 23 which engage the indexing star 20 to index the shaft into six equidistantly spaced position. Press-fitted onto the hexagonal shaft 17 is a series of cams 24 of which there may be six by way of example. These cams are equally spaced along the shaft and are provided for operating respective switches hereinafter described.

The case is provided with a series of equally spaced holes 25 along one side thereof and of corresponding equally spaced holes 26 along the other side thereof which are laterally in line with the respective cams just mentioned. The holes 25 have openings 25a leading into the cavity 12 and the holes 26 have similar openings 260 leading into the cavity. The openings 25a and 26a are at the junction between the cover and the base section of the case and lead into the upper part of the cavity 12. Press-fitted into the portion of the holes 25 and 26 extending through the base section of the case are respective switch members 27 and 28. These switch members have identical body portions 27a and 28a which are tubular and provided with outwardly flared portions as shown in FIG. 5 so that they will have a tight press fit in the base section. Extending downwardly from the body portions of the switch members are respective pins 27b and 28b for plug-in connection with a printed circuit card 29 fractionally shown in FIG. 2. Extending upwardly from the inner sides of the body portions 27a and 280 are flat lug portions 270 and 280 that seat on the side ledges 10a and 10b of the base section of the case. Bent over at right angles to the lug portions are switch arms 30 and 31 that extend through the openings 25a and 26a into the cavity 12. These are cantilever arms which terminate in oblique contact portions 300 and 31:! that overlap at one side of the shaft 17. In their normal positioning the arms 31 are spaced below the respective arms 30 and 31a that overlap at one side of the shaft 17. In their normal positioning the arms 31 are spaced below the respective arms 30 so that the contacts are open. When the shaft is turned to move a cam against a U-shaped cam follower portion 31b of an arm 31 the respective arm 31 is moved upwardly into rubbing contact with the associated switch arm 30. The reason for providing the U-shaped cam follower portions 31b is so that the switch arms 31 will be operated within a narrow range of turning movement of the camshaft. The reason for providing the contact portions in an oblique direction to the direction of actuation of the switch arms 31 is so that a rubbing contact is obtained to keep the switch contacts clean.

A feature of the invention is to extend the side holes 25 and 26 through the cover section of the case and in providing the body portions of the switch members of a yieldable hollow construction so that any auxiliary circuit component 32 such as indicated in FIG. 2 may be provided with switch prongs 33 which can be pressed down through the holes in the cover section into yieldable engagement with the respective switch members. This provides a flexibility enabling easy connection of auxiliary circuit components with the respective switch contacts of the present switch device as may be desired.

It will be understood that the earns 24 may be oriented as desired for different switch operations. For example, if all of the cams are in line it would provide a multipole, single-throw normally open switch. On the other hand, if the cams are shifted by 60 from each other the switch would operate as a single pole, multiposition switch provided all of the common switch members are electrically connected together.

The particular embodiment of my invention herein shown and described is intended to be illustrative and not limitative of my invention since the same is subject to changes and modifications without departure from the scope of my invention which I endeavor to express according to the following claims.

Iclaim:

l. A switch device for integrated circuit systems comprising a case having a shallow height dimension relative to its length dimension, a pair of switch members in opposite side portions of said case having cantilever arms with contact portions in overlapping relationship, said switch members having pin portions extending below said case for plug-in connection with a printed circuit board, a camshaft in said case lengthwise thereof having an accessible head at one end of the case permitting adjustment of the shaft to open and close said switch contacts, said case having openings through the top and said switch members having hollow portions accessible via said opening for plug-in connection of a circuit component with said switch members.

2. A switch device comprising a shallow rectangular case of insulative material having a central cavity lengthwise thereof,

a camshaft in said cavity journaled in the end walls of said case, switch members mounted in said case at opposite sides thereof, said switch members having contact arms extending into said cavity from opposite sides thereof with the contact portions of said arms in overlapping relationship and controllable by said cam shaft to open and close said contact arms, the contact portions of said arms being oblique to the direction of opening and closing movement whereby said contact arms are moved into and out of engagement with a rubbing action.

3. A miniature switch device comprising a rectangular insulative case having a central cavity lengthwise thereof with bearing holes in the end walls and having a series of transverse holes through the case along its thickness dimension at each side of said cavity with narrow openings leading from each hole into said cavity, a shaft in said cavity journaled in said bearing holes, a series of cams mounted on said shaft, respective sets of switch members having body portions mounted in the holes at the opposite sides of said case. said switch members having arms extending through said openings into said cavity with the contact portions of the arms of one set movable respectively by said cams into and out of contact with the corresponding arms of the other set as said shaft is turned, said switch members having pinlike portions extending through the bottom of said case perpendicular to said shaft for plug-in connection with a printed circuit board, and said body portions of said switch members being hollow to receive pins via said holes from the top of said case whereby to enable a plug-in connection of circuit components from the top of said case with said respective contact arms.

4. A miniature switch device comprising a rectangular insulative case having a central cavity lengthwise thereof with bearing holes in the end walls and having a series of transverse holes through the case along its thickness dimension at each side of said cavity with narrow openings leading from each hole into said cavity, a shaft in said cavity journaled in said bearing holes, a series of cams mounted on said shaft, respective sets of switch members having body portions mounted in the holes at the opposite sides of said case, said switch members having arms extending through said openings into said cavity with the contact portions of the anns of one set movable respectively by said cams into and out of contact with the corresponding arms of the other set as said shaft is turned, said switch members having pinlike portions extending through the bottom of said case perpendicular to said shaft for plug-in connection with a printed circuit board, and the cooperable portions of said contact arms being oblique to the direction of actuation by said cams whereby said contact arms are moved into and out of engagement with a rubbing action.

t i 1B i t 

1. A switch device for integrated circuit systems comprising a case having a shallow height dimension relative to its length dimension, a pair of switch members in opposite side portions of said case having cantilever arms with contact portions in overlapping relationship, said switch members having pin portions extending below said case for plug-in connection with a printed circuit board, a camshaft in said case lengthwise thereof having an accessible head at one end of the case permitting adjustment of the shaft to open and close said switch contacts, said case having openings through the top and said switch members having hollow portions accessible via said opening for plug-in connection of a circuit component with said switch members.
 2. A switch device comprising a shallow rectangular case of insulative material having a central cavity lengthwise thereof, a camshaft in said cavity journaled in the end walls of said case, switch members mounted in said case at opposite sides thereof, said switch members having contact arms extending into said cavity from opposite sides thereof with the contact portions of said arms in overlapping relationship and controllable by said cam shaft to open and close said contact arms, the contact portions of said arms being oblique to the direction of opening and closing movement whereby said contact arms are moved into and out of engagement with a rubbing action.
 3. A miniature switch device comprising a rectangular insulative case having a central cavity lengthwise thereof with bearing holes in the end walls and having a series of transverse holes through the case along its thickness dimension at each side of said cavity with narrow openings leading from each hole into said cavity, a shaft in said cavity journaled in said bearing holes, a series of cams mounted on said shaft, respective sets of switch members having body portions mounted in the holes at the opposite sides of said case, said switch members having arms extending through said openings into said cavity with the contact portions of the arms of one set movable respectively by said cams into and out of contact with the corresponding arms of the other set as said shaft is turned, said switch members having pinlike portions extending through the bottom of said case perpendicular to said shaft for plug-in connection with a printed circuit board, and said body portions of said switch members being hollow to receive pins via said holes from the top of said case whereby to enable a plug-in connection of circuit components from the top of said case with said respective contact arms.
 4. A miniature switch device comprising a rectangular insulative case having a central cavity lengthwise thereof with bearing holes in the end walls and having a series of transverse holes through the case along its thickness dimension at each side of said cavity with narrow openings leading from each hole into said cavity, a shaft in said cavity journaled in said bearing holes, a series of cams mounted on said shaft, respective sets of switch members having body portions mounted in the holes at the opposite sides of said case, said switch members having arms extending through said openings into said cavity with the contact portions of the arms of one set movable respectively by said cams into and out of contact with the corresponding arms of the other set as said shaft is turned, said switch members having pinlike portions extending through the bottom of said case perpendicular to said shaft for plug-in connection with a printed circuit board, and the cooperable portions of said contact arms being oblique to the direction of actuation by said cams whereby said contact arms are moved into and out of engagement with a rubbing action. 